Genesis 27:23

And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.

And he discerned {H5234} him not, because his hands {H3027} were hairy {H8163}, as his brother {H251} Esau's {H6215} hands {H3027}: so he blessed {H1288} him.

However, he didn't detect him; because his hands were hairy like his brother 'Esav's hands; so he gave him his blessing.

Isaac did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him.

And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.

Commentary

Genesis 27:23 describes a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative of Jacob and Esau, where Jacob successfully deceives his blind father, Isaac, to receive the patriarchal blessing intended for his older brother, Esau.

Context of Genesis 27:23

This verse is part of a dramatic scene in Genesis 27. Isaac, old and with failing eyesight (Genesis 27:1), intended to bestow his final, powerful blessing upon Esau, his firstborn. However, Rebekah, Isaac's wife and Jacob's mother, orchestrated a plan for Jacob to impersonate Esau (Genesis 27:6-13). Jacob, naturally smooth-skinned, wore goatskins on his hands and neck to mimic Esau's hairiness (Genesis 27:16). Despite initial suspicion due to Jacob's voice, Isaac's sense of touch ultimately convinced him, leading to the blessing.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Deception and its Consequences: The verse highlights the success of Jacob's elaborate deception, enabled by Isaac's blindness. This act, while achieving the desired blessing, led to significant family strife and Jacob's subsequent flight from Esau's wrath (Genesis 27:41).
  • Mistaken Identity: Isaac's inability to "discern" Jacob due to the physical disguise underscores the theme of mistaken identity. His reliance on touch over sound proved crucial in the trickery.
  • The Power of the Blessing: The patriarchal blessing was considered irrevocable and highly significant in ancient Near Eastern culture, conveying authority, prosperity, and divine favor. Once given, it could not be taken back, as seen in Esau's later distress (Genesis 27:34-38).
  • Divine Sovereignty: While human deception is clearly at play, many commentators see God's overarching plan at work. God had previously declared that the elder would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23), and Esau had already devalued his birthright by selling it for a meal (Genesis 25:33-34). This event, though flawed in execution, aligns with God's ultimate purpose for Jacob to inherit the covenant promises.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb translated "discerned" is יַכִּרֵהוּ (yakkirehu), from the root נָכַר (nakar), which means to recognize, distinguish, or acknowledge. Isaac's failure to nakar Jacob highlights the effectiveness of the disguise. He relied on the tactile evidence of the "hairy hands" (a key characteristic of Esau) over the auditory evidence of Jacob's voice, leading to the fateful blessing.

Practical Application

This narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of deception and the short-sightedness of manipulating circumstances, even for seemingly good outcomes. While God can work through imperfect human actions to fulfill His plan, it does not condone the sin involved. The story also reminds us that God's purposes are often deeper and more complex than our immediate understanding, and that His ultimate will can prevail despite human failings and intricate family dramas. It encourages integrity and trust in God's timing rather than resorting to manipulative schemes.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hebrews 11:20 (5 votes)

    By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

  • Genesis 27:16 (5 votes)

    And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:

  • Romans 9:11 (3 votes)

    (For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

  • Romans 9:12 (3 votes)

    It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.